Safina warns players may boycott WTA tourn next year

[anointedone]

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/11102008/58/wta-tour-safina-warns-2009-boycott.html

WTA Tour - Safina warns of 2009 boycott

World number three Dinara Safina said that the top players could boycott next year's WTA Tour if their questions were left unanswered.

The Russian said the players were unhappy with the changes to the schedule being made.

"If they (WTA) don't listen to what we have to say we might even choose to boycott the new tour," Safina said after losing 6-2 7-6 to compatriot Vera Zvonareva in the Kremlin Cup semi-finals.

"They said the leading players would have to play in designated tournaments while lower-ranked players would be able to enter any event they like. There's no logic in that at all.

"What if all the top players choose to enter the same tournament? What will the WTA do then? We want to know," added Safina.

Under the so-called Road Map 2010, 26 Tier One and Tier Two events will be combined into 20 Premiere tournaments with players committed to play in at least 10.

Four £2.6 million tournaments in Indian Wells, Miami, Madrid and Beijing will be mandatory for all players who qualify.

Below the mandatory events will be five £1.17 million stops in Canada, Dubai, Rome, Cincinnati and Tokyo, of which the top-ranked players must play at least four.

The WTA has committed to having at least seven of the world's top 10 players at each of these events. Players will complete their schedules by competing in at least one or two events worth over £400,00 each.

"There are a lot of grey areas," said Safina. "No one seems to understand which tournaments you can play and which you can't."

Her thoughts were echoed by Zvonareva and compatriot Svetlana Kuznetsova.

"I was told only two players from the top 10 could enter a smaller tournament like the Kremlin Cup next year," said world number seven Kuznetsova.

"What if (world number one) Jelena Jankovic and Serena or Venus (Williams) want to play here?

"Then all the top Russian players, and there are five of us in the top 10, will not be able to play in their home tournament. That's nonsense."

Safina, who will rise to a career-high number two when the new rankings are released on Monday, said the leading players will get together at next month's season-ending WTA Championships in Doha to share their concerns.

WTA officials were not available for comment.

 

[tacou]

strange... if what she says is true that's stupid.

 

[superstition]

If that's true, then the boycott absolutely should happen. The WTA has no right to tell players which tournaments they should play and not play unless it's based strictly on ranking and basic eligibility (not banned like Hingis, for instance).

 

[robin7]

I agree with the rules of minimum tournaments to be played by the players. This will make sure players like Williams sisters to play more tournaments.

But I strongly disagree with the idea of limiting the number of top 10 players in a tournament as objected by Kuznetsova.

 

[superstition]

This will make sure players like Williams sisters to play more tournaments.

Why?

There are plenty of WTA players. Players don't need to be forced to play. If anything, it helps the struggling to pay the bills players get into draws.

 

[idj49]

I agree with the rules of minimum tournaments to be played by the players. This will make sure players like Williams sisters to play more tournaments.

Why? Isn't that what the rankings are for? You don't play enough events you don't have the ranking points.

 

[lacoster]

This is all motivated by money, it seems. Big events (offering $2 million or more) like Beijing, Madrid, Dubai, etc. give the WTA the most amount of sponsorship $$. The WTA obviously wants to make those tournaments happy by sending all the top players there. The smaller "big events" (offering $1 million or less) like Moscow, Charleston, Berlin now need a cap of the number of top players in the draw to mirror the amount of money involved. It seems commensurate with the overall purse, which makes sense from a financial standpoint. It only seems unfortunate for the Moscow event, which is the only tournament in Russia, where all the top players are from right now.

 

[David_Is_Right]

I agree with the rules of minimum tournaments to be played by the players. This will make sure players like Williams sisters to play more tournaments.

I totally agree with this, too.

 

[superstition]

I totally agree with this, too.

Why?

10 characters.

 

[orangettecoleman]

well i don't see why players should be forced to play certain tournaments. if they want to sacrifice the ranking points and prize money they could get then that's their choice. it just opens things up more for the players who are willing to punch the clock on a weekly basis and play every event they can.

 

[MEAC_ALLAMERICAN]

The WTA new rules goes into effect come 2009, a lot of players will have to take notice. Interesting stuff, can't wait to see what happens. :?

 

[superstition]

I hope they have the guts to boycott. If the major WTA players do so, this absurdity will not continue.

 

[Vector]

Good, let them boycott

 

[MEAC_ALLAMERICAN]

What is funny is a lot of you that are commenting, are acting like the WTA just announced these changes. These changes have been announced for quite a long time now. So what is the big deal?

 

[superstition]

The big deal is that players will not be able to play in the tournaments they want to play in (like the Russians in Russian tournaments as Safina mentioned) and will have to play tournaments they don't want to play. This not only is bad for the top players but it's bad for the lower-ranked players who are going to be forced out of draws because higher-ranked players, who otherwise wouldn't be there, are being forced in.

It seems absurd to me in every respect and defies the merit of the ranking system.

 

[raiden031]

well i don't see why players should be forced to play certain tournaments. if they want to sacrifice the ranking points and prize money they could get then that's their choice. it just opens things up more for the players who are willing to punch the clock on a weekly basis and play every event they can.

Because top players sell more tickets. Its not about the players, but about revenue generated at these events.

 

[Rv.D]

Because top players sell more tickets. Its not about the players, but about revenue generated at these events.

But shouldnt it be their choice whether they play or not???Sure it ruins evrything but its their personal choice, right???

 

[superstition]

Because top players sell more tickets. Its not about the players, but about revenue generated at these events.

They aren't slaves.

This slave mentality that the WTA is trying to instill is bad for the sport. Tennis is an individual sport.

 

[kungfusmkim]

i knew this was happening but i thought that most pros agreed to this

 

[maverick66]

They aren't slaves.

This slave mentality that the WTA is trying to instill is bad for the sport. Tennis is an individual sport.

this is there job. the wta is there boss as they organize all the tournies they play in. i understand the wta trying to get there women to play more and in bigger venues but there going the wrong way about it. why not add incentives to play more big events. add extra money or points for those who compete in the most big tournies. they need to slow down this trend of all the pros doing whatever they want. the atp needs to stiffen up there tourny schedules as well. no way should guys in top 50 be playing in small venues. save them for the big events and get rid of the appearance fees.

 

[superstition]

this is there job. the wta is there boss as they organize all the tournies they play in.

I see tennis pros as contractors, and contractors have the right to say no to jobs. I'm no expert by any means in business law, but I don't agree that the WTA is the players' "boss" in the traditional sense.

What we're talking about is how slavish do the players need to be. Should the WTA be able to force them to show up for fashion photo shoots that interfere with their tournament play? Sharapova protested a hefty fine for skipping one of those.

The players should stand up for themselves. They are what make the WTA exist, not the other way around. Besides, the "might makes right" argument isn't very useful in either direction. As I said, lower-ranked players who need entry into tournaments more (in order to pay the bills) are the ones who lose out with this plan, as do the higher-ranked players who want to life their lives as they see fit and participate in tournaments that suit them.

 

[Marcos]

Safina was wrong: the Kremlim Cup will be able to receive all top players who want to play there. This is from http://www.tennis.com/news/ticker.aspx:

Dinara Safina has modified the comments she made last week about the new WTA calendar, when she said the players could chose to boycott the tour over limits on the number of top players certain events can have. Specific concern was expressed over Moscow given that Russia has several top 10 players.

"I was given the wrong information and now understand that the Kremlin Cup in Moscow can receive an unlimited number of top players," she said. I support the direction the Tour is taking – especially as it relates to steps taken to create a healthier calendar for top players – though I want to wait and see how the Roadmap develops before coming to final opinions on the many reforms that will part of the new system.”

WTA CEO Larry Scott said Moscow was exempt from the limits. "[Moscow] is one of five tournaments which falls the week immediately before a Grand Slam or the Sony Ericsson Championships that will have unlimited player commitment, meaning any number of top 10 players can play the event. We have since spoken with Dinara and clarified this detail."

Isn't it weird that players at the very top are not familiar with changes that were discussed for a long time before they were announced?

 

[tennis-hero]

Wimbledon Males Final, the best in years got like 10 million in audience figures

the semis for an relatively unknown female chinese player broke 100 MILLION

follow the money, INVEST in China, and screw everyone else

promote Tennis in China

 

[janipyt05]

The WTA has for a long time had the rule of a certain amount of top ten players entering a draw for tournament with small draws so i don't know Safina is on about mind you she has only been in the top ten what a few months.

 

[randysmith80]

They aren't slaves.

This slave mentality that the WTA is trying to instill is bad for the sport. Tennis is an individual sport.

It's an idividual sport, but is still a job. They're professional tennis players, not leisure/hobbyist tennis players. You don't get to choice when to come to work. But you do get mandatory breaks and vacations after so much time. This is their job, they get paid millions to hit a freaking ball back and forth. I'm sure they'll make it through this rough time in the life.